Washing-machine



(No Model.)

\ J. W. ROBERTS. WASHING MACHINE.

' No. 359.519. Patented-Mar. 15, 1887.

W'ITNESSES I Y PATENT FFICEQ JOHN \V. ROBERTS, OF OLARINDA, IO\VA.

wAs-HiNe- AcHmE.

crncrrrca'rrolv forming part of Letters eatent'ivo. 359,519, dated' real-Q11 15,1887.

Application filed May 22, 1884. Serial No. 132,419.

' T0 aZL whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN W. BoBnRTs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Clarinda, in the county of Page and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'lVashing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters-or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to wash'ing-machiues; and it consists in the improvements hereinafter described and set forth, whereby clothes may be readily and effectively washed with but a comparative slight exertion.

1n the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a central section of a washing-machine embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a plan of said washingmachine; and Fig. 3 is a' detail perspective view of the plunger or piston, a portion of the same being removed to illustrate the upper valve arrangement of the same.

As illustrated, my improvement consists of a rectangular tub, A, suitably supported upon feet B, and having centrally suspended within the samea chamber, 0, the bottom a of which is located a short distance above the bottom I) of the tub. The said chamber 0 is maintained in a central position within the tub A by means of sections D, arranged vertically between each side of the chamber 0 and the inner faces of the sections composing the sides of the tub A.

At the upper portion of one of the sides of the tub A is secured the lower end of a vertical standard, E, which extends above the tub A, and terminates at its upper end in a head, 0, to which is pivotally attached by a pin, d, an operating-lever, F, the free end ofwhich is reduced to form a handle.

Centrally on the under side of the said handle F is secured a socket, c, with which on gages the upper end of the rod f, which extends downwardly therefrom into the chamber 0, so as to engage a'nut, g, which is centrally braced above the plunger G by inclined braces 71, which are connected both to said nut g and (No model.)

to. plates 2', secured on the upper side of said plunger. The said plunger G is of such dimension as to rest within the chamber G and completely fill the same in cross-area. The plunger consists of a top plate, j, and a plate,

k, which is separated from said top plate by the intervening bars or rim, Z, so as to provide a space between the top plate, j, and the plate It. The bottom plate, at, is also separated from the plate It by intervening bars or rims, m, so as to form a space below said plate In, and I prefer to interpose a washer, at", between the plate at and ri ms at, which washer projects outwardly in contact with the walls of the chamber 0. This washer may entirely cover plate at, vents being provided to register with perforations q in said plate at, or may be otherwise arranged. The spaces below and above said plate It communicate with each other through openings 0, formed in the plate It, the said openings being closed on the upper side of the said plates is by means of valves 1), secured on the upper side of said plate It.

The plate m is provided with a series of perforations, q, which register vertically with a series of like perforations, r, formed in a false bottom, H, arranged and supported in the chamber G above the bottom (0 thereof by means of strips 8.

The bottom a of the chamber 0 is centrally perforated to receive the shank of a disk-valve, t, which is adapted by its vertical movement to admit water from beneath thebottom a into the space below the false bottom H of said chamber.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The plunger G is removed from the chamber 0 to permit the clothes and articles to be washed to be placed upon the false bottom H. The handle E is then worked upon its pivot to rapidly move the plunger G up and down in the chamber 0. As the plunger is elevated the suction causes the valve tto be lifted, and the water passes from the tub into the chamber C and saturates the clothes and articles.

IOO

the elevation of said plunger passes from the said space through the openings in the sides of the plunger and escapes over the top of the chamber 0 and again back in the tub. The arrangement of the rod connecting devices with the handle 1? and plunger G permits the length of said rod to be readily regulated, while the said handle may be readily operated under the pivotal connection with said rod.

I do not herein limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement described and illustrated, as the same may be subject to various modifications and changes and still remain within the scope of myinvention. Moreover, the particular configuration or form of the structure is not essential to its practical operation. Furthermore, I do not desire to be limited to any particular material in the con struction of the said improvement.

I claim 1. The combination, in a washing-machine, of a tub suitably supported and arranged, a central chamber supported within said tub, a valve located on the bottom of said chamber and controlling communication between said chamber and said tub, a lever pivoted to one side ofsaid tub and having extended centrally therefrom a pivoted depending rod, and connections for attaching said rod to a plunger 10- catcd within said chamber, and provided with a perforated plate having valves secured on the upper side of the same, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a washing-machine, of a tub suitably supported and arranged and braced by vertical sections D, a valve, t, ar-

ranged on the upper side of the bottom ofsaid.

chamber, a perforated false bottom, H, arranged within said chamber, a plunger, G, playing within said chamber and provided with a perforated valved plate, In, and perforated plates m, and a pivoted lever with connections for vertically moving said plunger in said chamber, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a washing-machine arranged and operating substantially as described, of a lever, F, pivoted to one side of the tub A, and provided centrally on its under side with a pivoted socket threaded to receive the upper end of a depending rod, f, and a plunger, G, having centrally secured and braced on its upper side a nut, g, threaded to engage the lower end of said rod f, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN \V. ROBERTS. Vitnesses:

E. W. JOHNSON, JOHN E. BEALL. 

